Sleepless in Seattle?

The International Trademark Association (INTA) hosts a partyconference every year, where approximately 10,000 patent and trademark attorneys work hard swapping business cards in the hope of generating work. This year, the conference runs from 19 May 2018 to 23 May 2018.

Shavuot, or Pentecost, is the Feast of Weeks. It follows seven weeks after the first day of Pesach (Passover), and this year starts on the evening of Saturday the 19th May 2018 and finishes on the evening of Monday 21 May 2018.

In Temple times, Shavuot was primarily a Harvest Festival, celebrating the end of the wheat harvest. It was also the Feast of New Fruits. By a little calculation, it appears that the Sinaitic Revelation and the receiving of the Decalogue took place on Shavuot as well. Lacking positive commandments beyond the Temple sacrifices, Shavuot is traditionally celebrated by an all night study program.

It is tempting to be Sleepless in Seattle, and the film was one of my favorite romantic movies. However, it seems a long way to go to be able to participate only in the Tuesday program at INTA this year. I am, therefore, not attending. The small number of KIPA members (Kosher IP Attorneys) that traditionally get together for dinner one evening in INTA at the local Kosher restaurant or Chabad House, will not be meeting there this year.

On the bright side, Seattle is probably a very nice city, but unlike some of the iconic conference cities, it is not a destination I am bothered about missing.